FOTO: Merlijn Doomernik

Biography:

Pieter Bart Korthuis (1971) completed Dutch Film and Television Academy in 1994. He further expanded on his knowledge of film and storytelling by studying documentary in Mexico City at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica. Korthuis is the creator of the Dutch hit series "Penoza". It has been remade in five countries, such as the United States ("Red Widow") and Sweden (Gåsmamman). Other series he wrote and developed include 'Fighter's Heart', a series about kickboxing that won the Dutch TV Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Series and the childrens serie "Trollie". Furthermore Korthuis has written a number of screenplays for feature films, such as ‘The Strongest Man in Holland’ (with co-writer Maarten Lebens), which won numerous international prizes such as Winner Prix D’europe 2011 – best television drama, Best Screenplay 2011 – children’s festival Hyderabad and was nominated for the prestigious Rose d’or 2012 and the international Emmy Award, "Crazy about Orange", and "Pie Man", a crime comedy, about a pastry shop owner who gets involved in a drug deal.

Korthuis is chairman of the Dutch Writers Guild (Netwerk Scenarioschrijvers/Auteursbond) since June 2017. He lives and works in Amsterdam, is married and has two daughters.

Filmography Pieter Bart Korthuis

Crazy about Orange (2018) Writer/creator (co-written by Maarten Lebens)

Feature film Comedy about the Netherlands going crazy during the 2010 Worldcup in South-Africa.

producer: Topkapi Film

director: Pim van Hoeve

Suspects (2017) Director

Drama series Police series for Videoland/RTL (one episode)

Producer: Fiction Valley (Freemantle Netherlands)

Fighter's Heart (2014/2017) Showrunner/creator/director

Drama series Summary: When released from prison a former kickboxing champion has to fight his way back to the top.

producer: Endemol Netherlands for BNN/VARA

Winner Golden TV Award best screenplay, best director and best dramaseries 2017

(18 episodes, 50")

Trollie (2014/2015) Writer/creator

Youth series Summary: On his christmas holiday a 10-year old boy befriends a lost troll and decides to bring him back to where he comes from.

producer: Joco Media for KRO/NCRV

(10 episodes, 25", filming start march 2015)

When the water comes Script supervisor (writers: Maarten Lebens, Karin van der Meer)

(2014/2015) Summary: When large parts of the Netherlands and Belgium Drama series are flooded the whole of society fights for survival.

producer: Joco Media for EO (Netherlands) and VRT (Belgium)

(6 episodes, 45", filming starts september 2015)

Penoza (2009/2013): Concept/Screenplay (co-writers: Franky Ribbens, Elbe Stevens,

Crime-series Maarten Lebens, Karin van der Meer)

Crimeseries directed by Diederik van Rooyen (KRO/NL FILM)

Summary: a widow of an assassinated criminal is forced to adopt her husband's role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family.

Nominated for LIRA best Screenplay award 2011, nominated for Beeld en Geluid Award best television series.

Remakes in the USA (Red Widow), Poland, Slovakia and Russia.

producer: NL Film for KRO television.

The Strongest Man in Holland (2011):

Childrens’ movie screenplay (together with Maarten Lebens)

Telefilm directed by Mark de Cloe

Summary: Twelve year old Luuk Bos has grown up thinking that his dad is the strongest man in the world. Because this is what his (single) mother Dorien used to tell him when he was little. When a strongman competition comes to town, Luuk decides to go looking for his dad.

Winner Prix d’Europe, best television drama.

Winner Best Screenplay 2011 – children’s festival Hyderabad

Nominated Rose d’or Festival 2012

Nominated International Kids Emmy Award 2013

Bennie Stout (2011): Screenplay (co-written by Maarten Lebens and Wijo Koek)

Childrens’ movie Directed by Johan Nijenhuis

Summary: In Holland parents used tell their children that if they don’t behave, Sinterklaas will take them to Spain on his boat. For most kids this is a very scary idea. For 9 year old Bennie, however, it’s exactly what he wants because he wants to go to his dad who works as a fisherman in Spain. All he has to do is misbehave…

Keyzer en de Boer Legal series about a Dutch law firm for KRO/NCRV television.

Lawyers (2005 -2008) The series run for three seasons with a total of 44 episodes.

Dramaseries Korthuis wrote 10 episodes and became head writer of the third season.

Verborgen Gebreken Dramedy series for NET 5, about a young real estate firm.

(2009 – 2011) The series was created by an original idea from Korthuis and

Comedyseries ran for three seasons.

Pie Man (2009): Screenplay

Crime-comedy Directed by Annemarie van de Mond

Summary: a pastry shop owner gets in serious trouble when he decides to get involved in a drug deal to solve his financial problems.

The law according to Head writer/concept/ director

Milo (2003/2004) Summary: a romance/legal series about the controversial

Legal comedy Belgian lawyer Milo

(10 episodes, 45")

Snow Fever (2004) Romantic comedy about a girl who falls in love during a winter feature Film holiday.

Director: Pim van Hoeve

Pieter Bart Korthuis is also writer of the novel Penoza (based on his own television series) that was nominated two times for Best Thriller Debut of 2011.

The book PENOZA can be purchased through Ambo/Anthos publishers: www.amboanthos.nl